Footrest Of One-Legged Seating Device

ABSTRACT

A footrest of a one-legged seating device includes a fixation device and a ring frame. The fixation device is integrally molded of plastic and includes a hub having a central hole and a plurality of spokes around the hub. The ring frame is a metal tube shaped into a ring. Using injection molding, the ring frame is wrapped by and fixed to circumferential ends of the spokes. A sleeve and a pressed sheet are provided between the central hole of the hub and a supporting post. A locking bolt is screwed into the fixation device. The locking bolt presses to the pressed sheet, the pressed sheet to the sleeve, and the sleeve to the supporting post. Therefore the footrest is fixed to the supporting post at a desired height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved structure of a footrest of a one-legged seating device.

2. The Prior Arts

A one-legged stool usually provides a footrest at a proper height of the supporting post for the consideration of comfortable seating. When a user sits on the cushion, he/she can tread on the footrest to let his/her feet get relaxed.

The footrest structure of the prior art comprises a metal ring frame and a fixation device. The fixation device includes a plurality of spokes and a hub to fix the ring frame in place. The spokes are arranged in radial directions, and the hub is provided at the center where the spokes meet. The hub has a central hole to fix the footrest on the supporting post. The ends of spokes are riveted or welded to the ring frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The conventional footrest of a one-legged stool is made of metal, so its weight is pretty heavy. Because the fixation device is riveted or welded to the ring frame, it is expensive and time consuming. A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a footrest of a one-legged seating device that can overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.

A footrest of a one-legged seating device in accordance with the present invention comprises a ring frame and a fixation device. The fixation device comprises a plurality of spokes and a hub. The fixation device is integrally molded of plastic material. The ring frame is wrapped by and attached to circumferential ends of the spokes as the spokes are fabricated. The hub with a central hole is provided at the center where the spokes meet.

The ring frame is a metal tube shaped into a ring, and placed in a circumference of a mold for over-molding the fixation device. The melting plastic is injected at high pressure into the mold. After the melting plastic solidifies, the ring frame is wrapped by and fixed to circumferential ends of the spokes.

Because plastic material is used to over-mold the fixation device in the above-mentioned footrest structure according to the present invention, the whole weight of a product gets lighter without sacrifice of strength and other engineering properties.

Furthermore, because the present invention uses the injection molding to manufacture the fixation device, and fix the ring frame and the fixation device together, the fixating device does not need to be welded or riveted to the ring frame. It simplifies the assembling process. The manufacture cost can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an one-legged seating device with a footrest in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing primary components of the footrest and how they are assembled with a supporting post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a planar top view of the footrest in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V in FIG. 3;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following description, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings and component numerals, and it can be carried into effect by those skilled in the art after reading it.

As shown in FIG. 1, a footrest 1 in accordance with the present invention is used in a one-legged seating device. The footrest 1 is mounted on a supporting post 5 that supports a seat. The footrest 1 is height adjustable and is fixed at a place by a locking bolt 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the footrest 1 in accordance with the present invention includes a ring frame 11 and a fixation device 12, wherein the fixation device 12 is made of plastic material, and includes a hub 13 having a central hole 131 and a plurality of spokes 121 arranged in radial direction around the hub 13. The hub 13 provides at least one screw hole 14 running through a sidewall to the central hole 131 of the hub 13. A locking bolt 2 is screwed into the screw hole 14 and fixes the footrest 1 in place. The ring frame 11 may be made of metal or other materials. However, based on the aesthetical consideration, the ring frame 11 and the fixation device 12 are made of different materials respectively and arranged in pairs to obtain a better visual effect. The ring frame 11 is a metal tube shaped into a ring, and placed at a circumference of a mold for over-molding the fixation device 12. Then the melting plastic is injected into the mold. After the melting plastic solidifies, the ring frame 11 is wrapped by and fixed to the circumferential ends of the spokes 121.

FIGS. 2 and 5 show the structure that the footrest 1 is assembled with the supporting post 5 of the seating device. To obtain a stable assembly and fixation, the central hole 131 of the hub 13 provides a pressed sheet 3 and a sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 is made of a material with proper rigidity and elasticity, such as hard rubber, plastic material, and metal. It is a tube whose outer periphery is fitted to the central hole 131 of the hub 13, and central part is a passage hole 41 that lets the supporting post 5 pass through. A flange 42 is provided at one end of the sleeve 4. While the sleeve 4 is fitted into the central hole 131 of the hub 13, the curved pressed sheet 3 is provided between the sleeve 4 and the central hole 131. The pressed sheet 3 is made of a high-strength and wear-resisting material, and is molded into a curved sheet. The pressed sheet 3 has approximately the same curvature of an outer diameter of the sleeve 4. A plurality of holes 31 is provided on the pressed sheet 3, in order to obtain better flexibility and elasticity.

FIG. 5 shows the state that after the sleeve 4 and the pressed sheet 3 are assembled to the central hole 131 of the hub 13, and the supporting post 5 then passes through the passage hole 41 of the sleeve 4. A user can manually operate the locking bolt 2. When the locking bolt 2 is screwed in to press the pressed sheet 3, the pressed sheet presses the sidewall of the sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 then grips the supporting post 5, thereby attaching the footrest 1 to the supporting post 5. Whereas, when the locking bolt 2 is screwed off to release the pressure on the pressed sheet 3, the pressed sheet 3 will return to the original state by its elastic force and release the pressure on the sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 then releases the grip to the supporting post 5, and the footrest 1 can move freely along the supporting post 5. Therefore the user can adjust the height of the footrest 1 along the supporting post 5, and lock the footrest 1 in place by the locking bolt 2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

1. A footrest of a one-legged seating device, comprising: a fixation device comprising a hub having a central hole and a plurality of spokes arranged in radial directions around the hub; and a ring frame shaped into a ring and assembled to the spokes by integrally molding.
 2. The footrest of a one-legged seating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein materials of the fixation device and the ring frame are different.
 3. The footrest of a one-legged seating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ring frame is a metal tube, and the fixation device is made of plastic.
 4. The footrest of a one-legged seating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring frame is wrapped by and fixed to circumferential ends of the spokes.
 5. The footrest of a one-legged seating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ring frame is wrapped by and fixed to the circumferential ends of the spokes. 